Pitcher



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iiifiin W41 c. o. gwphwsow PITCHER Filed Sept. 11, 1939 04am 0. SwAMso/v Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orFrcE PITCHER Carl 0. Swanson, Minneapolis, Minn. Application September 11, 1939, Serial No. 294,233

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pitchers or similar small vessels used for holding and pouring liquids.

The ordinary pitcher, as particularly exem- 5 plified by the cream pitcher used at the table, has

That is, the tendency of the last drop or two of the liquid or cream, after a quantity has been poured, to run down the side below the pitchers spout and thus soil both pitcher and table and generally cause an unsightly and unsanitary condition. It is the primary object of my invention therefore to provide a pitcher having means for collecting the drippings from the spout or lip and returning them to the interior of the pitcher so that they cannot run down and drip from the sides.

A further object is to provide a pitcher and improved arrangement thereof in which the action of collecting and returning the drippings is entirely automatic and results from the normal tipping or canting of the pitcher in use.

Still another object is to provide a non-dripping attachment or mechanism for a pitcher in a simple and inexpensive form and of such construction and arrangement that it may be readily kept clean and free of unsightly matter.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side view of a pitcher including my invention, the pitcher being shown at rest in normal position on the table and with a part broken.

away and in section to show my non-drip mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the pitcher looking toward the spout or pouring lip thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section along the line 3-3 in Fig, 2, the pitcher in this case being shown as canted for pouring out the contents.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the spout portion of the pitcher, the view being on the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of non-drip mechanism.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawing, the reference character it designates a pitcher of usual form having an open topped container or bowl B for containing the liquid, a base C for supporting the bowl, an outwardly extending and rounded pouring spout or lip D, and opposite thereto a handle E for lifting and tipping or canting the pitcher to pour out the liquid over the spout.

tions of such vessels and it is to be understood that my invention may be applied as well to other containers having similar pouring spouts.

In the'use of a pitcher of this kind there is a well known tendency for the liquid poured over the spout or lip to run down over the adjacent lower and frontal side of the spout, clinging to the surface of the pitcher until it finally falls to the table. In accordance with my invention a return passageway or opening Hi is formed through the frontal wall of the pitcher a short distance below the spout D, but above the normal level of liquid in the pitcher, and on an angle declining or extending downwardly and inwardly into the pitcher away from the spout. The forward wall of the pitcher bowl is then molded and formed with a forwardly projecting shoulder or ledge ll defining the lower forward margin of said opening l and this shoulder extends upwardly toward the lip D in the form of spaced side portions [2.

The last drops or portions of the liquid poured over the lip D may as usual run down the under forward side thereof, but they will now be diverted or returned through the opening III to the inside of the bowl B as the pitcher is returned to its normal resting position. The shoulder II and side portions l2 serve to confine this travel of the liquid and to direct it into the open forward end of the opening ID as will be readily apparent. The lower outer portion of the opening thus actually extends forwardly into the path of the liquid while the upper portion sets back to receive the liquid, due to the angle of the opening and formation of the shoulder I I.

In order to prevent the liquid from running directly out through the opening If] as the pitcher is tilted forwardly, I provide a check or gate valve l3 which, in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 through 4, is pivotally connected at its upper side at M to a short sleeve or tube 1 inserted in the opening Ill and cemented or otherwise secured therein. This valve I3 is located at the inner end of said opening Ill and due to the aforesaid inclination of the opening the valve will of its own weight normally hang in a position clearing the inner end of the opening (and of the sleeve [5 therein) at the lower side as indicated at IS. A weight or finger ll on the valve may be provided to properly distribute the weight with reference to the hinge or pivot M for this purpose.

In operation then the pitcher is manipulated in the usual manner and as it is tilted forwardly to pour the liquid the valve l3 will swing forwardly against the opening I8 and sleeve [5 therein (see Fig. 3) closing the same against the escape of the liquid, as will be clearly apparent.

As the pitcher is returned to level position the valve 13 will again swing open allowing the excess liquid to run back into the pitcher through the opening in the manner described.

To prevent the valve l3 from possibly sticking to the inner end of the valve I 5, due to the action of the liquid, the said inner end may be beveled off as indicated at Hi to present a sharp edge for contact with the valve. The inner surface of the bowl B around and beneath the inner end of the opening I3 is recessed as shown at IS in order to clear the valve l3 and allow the same 'to be disposed forwardly and reduce its projection into the pitcher.

In Fig. 5 the use of the aforesaid sleeve [5 is dispensed with and in lieu thereof the valve I3 is hinged at It! to a short mounting member or stud 20 which is inserted in an inwardly opening recess or bore 2! formed in the pitcher above the opening Hi to properly support said valve adjacent the opening. The valve thus swings closed against the inner end of the opening H] to seal the same and the margin of this opening is formed with an inwardly extending tapered rib 22 to prevent sticking of the valve. Other parts and the operation of this form of my invention are the same as above described.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a pitcher including a pouring lip, of means for returning liquid from the outer surface of the lip to the pitcher, the said pitcher having an opening through its side below the lip for this purpose, and a gravity operated valve operatively supported for closing said opening as the pitcher is tilted for pouring its contents and to clear said opening in the nor- 45 mal resting position of the pitcher, the said valve being arranged at the inner end of the opening, and the pitcher having a recess in its inner surface around the said opening for receiving and partially enclosing the valve.

2. The combination with a pitcher having a pouring lip, of means for returning liquid from the outer side of the lip to the interior of the pitcher, the said pitcher having an opening below the lip for this purpose, a sleeve in the opening, the inner end of the sleeve being obliquely disposed, and a valve pivotally connected to the inner end of the sleeve and adapted to swing closed against said end when the pitcher is tilted for pouring and thereby prevent escape of liquid through the sleeve, the said valve being weighted to swing clear of the inner end of the sleeve in the normal resting position of the pitcher.

3. The combination comprising a pitcher, a pouring lip thereon, the said pitcher having an opening in its Wall below the lip and adapted to return liquid running from the lip into the interior of the pitcher, the said pitcher having a recess in its inner surface above the opening, a stud member mounted in said recess and extended inwardly therefrom, a valve pivoted to the inner end of said member and arranged to swing against the inner end of the opening and close the same as the pitcher is tilted for pouring, and the said valve being so supported with reference to the opening that it will swing away from the opening in the normal resting position of the pitcher.

4. In a pitcher, a containing portion, a pouring lip extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the said containing portion having an opening below the lip and said opening inclining upwardly and outwardly toward its outer end, a sleeve mounted in the opening, and a valve pivotally connected to an upper inner end portion of the sleeve for movement toward and away from the inner end of the sleeve and adapted normally of its own weight to hang inwardly at its lower side clear from the said inner end of the sleeve.

CARL O. SWAWSON. 

